Information distribution system and method, terminal apparatus, server apparatus, data reception method, and data transmission method

ABSTRACT

An information distribution system and method capable of averaging a traffic load over time and effectively utilizing communication facilities, wherein a terminal station 30 transmits to a contents server 10 a distribution request for desired information including information of time limit of distribution, and the contents server 10 receives the distribution request, estimates a time band where the traffic load is small in the communications system in the period until the time limit of distribution, pages the terminal station again at that period of time, and, if the terminal station is in a state able to receive the information content, transmits the requested information content to the terminal station 30 through a network node.

This is a Divisional of application Ser. No. 09/647,964, filed on Jan.8, 2001, which is currently pending. application Ser. No. 09/647,964 isthe U.S. National Stage of International Application No. PCT/JP00/00705,filed on Feb. 9, 2000, and claims priority to Japanese PatentApplication No. 11-032065, filed Feb. 9, 1999. The entire contents ofthese applications are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an information distribution system andmethod, a terminal apparatus, a server apparatus, a data receptionmethod, and a data transmission method able to be applied to a networksystem such as a cellular wireless communication system and particularlycapable of averaging a traffic load over time and efficiently utilizinga communication infrastructure.

BACKGROUND ART

As an example of a general communication system for distributinginformation in the related art, web browsing over the Internet can bementioned.

A communication procedure in web browsing of the related art is shown inFIG. 1.

In this procedure, when a terminal station sends a demand for provisionof information (demand for content) to a contents server, the contentsserver immediately responds to this and transmits the requestedinformation content (requested content) to the terminal station.

In the above communication system, however, since it is based onreal-time communication immediately responding to a request forproviding information, for example as shown in FIG. 2, the traffic loadwidely varies such as with the amount sharply increasing during acertain time band and oppositely the amount largely decreasing during atime band, for example, at the night.

Accordingly, it suffers from the disadvantage that communicationfacilities are not in use during the night time and other time bandswhen the communication traffic is low, so the communication facilitiesare not efficiently used.

Further, it suffers from the disadvantage of the difficulty insufficient improvement of the efficiency of utilization of thecommunication facilities because a network operator often determines atraffic load of a communication system in order to provide an acceptablequality of service during the time bands when the traffic load is large.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an informationdistribution system and method capable of averaging a traffic load overtime and efficiently utilizing communication facilities.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an (a) terminalapparatus, (b) server apparatus, (c) data reception method, and (d) datatransmission method used for such an information distribution system andcapable of contributing to the averaging of the traffic load in thenetwork and efficient utilization of communication facilities.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is providedan information distribution system transmitting information based on ademand from a terminal apparatus from a server apparatus to the terminalapparatus, wherein said server apparatus comprises a first transceiverfor transmission to the terminal apparatus and a first controller forscheduling a point of time for distribution based on a state of acommunication line used for distribution of information in accordancewith a request signal requesting information from the terminal apparatusreceived at said transceiver and controlling the system for distributionof information for said request signal to the terminal apparatus throughthe transceiver at the scheduled point of time and said terminalapparatus comprises a second transceiver for communication with a serverapparatus and a second controller for generating a request signal forrequesting the distribution of desired information, controlling thesystem for transmission of the requested information to said serverthrough said second transceiver, and controlling the system forreception of said information distributed by said server apparatus in aperiod of time determined by said server apparatus with respect to saidrequest signal.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda terminal apparatus receiving distribution of information from a serverapparatus, said terminal apparatus receiving distribution of informationfrom a server apparatus comprising a transceiver for transmission to theserver apparatus and a controller for generating a request signal forrequesting the distribution of desired information, controlling thesystem for transmission of the requested information to said serverthrough said transceiver, and controlling the system for reception ofsaid information distributed by said server apparatus in a period oftime determined by said server apparatus with respect to said requestsignal.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provideda server apparatus transmitting information based on a demand from aterminal apparatus, said server apparatus transmitting information basedon a demand from a terminal apparatus comprising a transceiver fortransmission to the terminal apparatus and a controller for scheduling apoint of time for distribution based on a state of a communication lineused for distribution of information in accordance with a request signalrequesting information from the terminal apparatus received at saidtransceiver and controlling the system for distribution of informationfor said request signal to the terminal apparatus through thetransceiver at the scheduled point of time.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is providedan information distribution method for transmitting information based ona request from a terminal apparatus from a server apparatus to theterminal apparatus, said information distribution method fortransmitting information based on a request from a terminal apparatusfrom a server apparatus to the terminal apparatus comprising the stepsof having said terminal apparatus generates a request signal requestingdistribution of desired information; transmitting said request signalfrom said terminal apparatus to said server; having said serverapparatus schedule a point of time for distribution based on a state ofa communication line to be used for the distribution of information inaccordance with a request signal requesting information from saidterminal apparatus; distributing information for said request signalfrom said server apparatus to said terminal apparatus at the scheduledpoint of time; and having said terminal apparatus receive saidinformation distributed from said server apparatus.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda data reception method for receiving distribution of information from aserver apparatus, said data reception method for receiving distributionof information from a server apparatus comprising the steps ofgenerating a request signal requesting distribution of desiredinformation; transmitting said requested information to said server; andreceiving said information distributed by said server apparatus in aperiod of time determined by said server apparatus for said requestsignal.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provideda data transmission method for transmitting information based on arequest from a terminal apparatus, said data transmission method fortransmitting information based on a request from a terminal apparatuscomprising the steps of receiving a request signal requestinginformation from a terminal apparatus; scheduling a point of time fordistribution based on a state of a communication line used fordistribution of information; and transmitting the information for therequest signal to the terminal apparatus at the scheduled point of time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of a communication procedure in a communication systemfor performing conventional general information distribution.

FIG. 2 is a view of fluctuations in a traffic load over a day in aconventional general communication system.

FIG. 3 is a view of a network configuration of a cellular wirelesscommunication system of as embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the configuration of a contents server ofthe cellular wireless communication system shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the configuration of a terminal station ofthe cellular wireless communication system shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a view of a basic procedure of information distribution in thecellular wireless communication system shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a view of fluctuations in a traffic load over a day in thecellular wireless communication system shown in FIG. 3.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION First Embodiment

An embodiment of the present invention will be explained with referenceto FIGS. 3 to 7.

In the present embodiment, the present invention will be explained bygiving as an example a cellular wireless communication system.

First, the network configuration of a cellular wireless communicationsystem of the present embodiment will be explained with reference toFIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a view of the network configuration of the cellular wirelesscommunication system of the present embodiment.

A cellular wireless communication system 1 of the present embodiment hasthe configuration of arranging in layers as shown in the figures acontents server 10, a plurality of network nodes 20 ⁻¹ to 20 _(−n), anda plurality of terminal stations 30 ⁻¹ to 30 _(−m). Information istransmitted from the contents server 10 to the respective terminalstations 30 _(−j) (j=1 to m) via the network nodes 20 _(−i) (i=1 to n).

In the cellular wireless communication system 1, the network nodes 20 ⁻¹to 20 _(−n) correspond to an MTSO (Mobile Telephone Switching Office) ora wireless base station CS (Cell Site) etc. Therefore, communicationbetween the network nodes 20 _(−i) (i=1 to n) and the terminal stations30 _(−j) is maintained by the control carried out in an existingcellular wireless communication system.

The parts of the cellular wireless communication system 1 will beexplained in further detail below.

The contents server 10 is a server apparatus storing desired informationto be distributed and suitably distributes it in accordance withrequests. The contents server 10 is specifically configured by, forexample, a work station and a file server apparatus having acommunication interface.

The contents server 10 has a processing module for realizing functionsrelated to information distribution described below and thereby performsdesired processing.

First, the contents server 10 receives a distribution request of anyinformation transmitted from the respective terminal stations 30 _(−j)of the cellular wireless communication system 1 shown in FIG. 3. Thedistribution request includes contents information for specifyinginformation requested, terminal information for specifying a terminalstation 30 _(−j) and time limit information indicating a time limit ofdistribution. When receiving a distribution request, the contents server10 judges whether or not it has the information requested and judgeswhether it is possible to distribute the information before the timeindicated by the time limit information and thereby detects whether itcan respond to the distribution request and notifies the results to theterminal station 30 _(−j).

Further, when it is found to be possible to distribute the desiredinformation by this, the server refers to the information of the trafficload of the network estimated and stored in advance to calculate theperiod of time where the traffic load of the network is small andthereby determines the period of time for distribution of theinformation, notifies this to the terminal station 30 _(−j), and storesthis as a distribution schedule in the contents server 10.

Then, the contents server 10 successively distributes the information tothe terminal station 30 _(−j) in accordance with this storeddistribution schedule.

Further, at the time of the information distribution, the contentsserver 10 performs processing for charging the respective terminalstations 30 _(−j) for the distribution of information. The charge forthe distributed information is determined by a variety of conditionssuch as the type or amount of the distributed information, the contentof contracts for the information distribution service, the distributionareas, and distribution time bands. Also, in the present embodiment, itis determined by whether there is freedom of selection of the time limitof distribution based on a designated distribution time limit, usageconditions of communication resources based on a positional relationshipwith the terminal base station of a terminal station 30 _(−j), etc.

Also, the contents server 10, regardless of existence of a distributionrequest, suitably detects a communication state of the network system 1,that is, a traffic load (traffic load), and estimates a traffic load fordifferent time bands.

Also, the server sets the communication expenses for when distributinginformation based on the estimated traffic load. The communicationexpenses is set by for example region, by time bands, by time bands forindividual regions, etc.

Information of the estimated traffic load, communication expenses, etc.is stored in the contents server 10 and referred to at the time ofdetermining the distribution period of time of the requestedinformation. In addition, in some cases, it is transmitted to theterminal station 30 _(−j) in advance and referred to at the time when auser requests distribution.

The network nodes 20 _(−i) are relay devices for substantiallyconnecting the contents server 10 and the terminal stations 30 _(−j) inaccordance with a predetermined network topology. In FIG. 3, the layerof the network nodes 20 _(−i) forming the relay layer is made one layerfor simplifying the figure, however, in an actual cellular wirelesscommunication system 1, it is configured to have a plurality of layers.

The network nodes 20 _(−i) suitably send distribution requests ofinformation from the terminal stations 30 _(−j) to the contents server10 and distribute information from the contents server 10 to theterminal stations 30 _(−j).

The terminal stations 30 _(−j) are terminal apparatuses comprised ofcellular phones in the cellular wireless communication system 1 of thepresent embodiment. They are used by users for requesting distributionof information from the contents server 10 and performing mutualcommunication.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the configuration of the contents server10.

The contents server 10 is comprised of a CPU (central processing unit)11, ROM (read only memory) 12, RAM (random access memory) 13, framememory 14, display 15, input device 16, external storage 17,communications I/F (interface) 18, and bus 19.

The CPU 11 controls the contents server 10 based on a processing programstored in the ROM 12.

The ROM 12 has a processing program for processing in the CPU 11. Itstores a processing program in accordance with the informationdistribution routine explained below. The processing program iscomprised of control instructions for processing for judging if arequest for information content has been received from a terminalstation 30 _(−j) based on that request, processing for generating aresponse to the terminal 30 _(−j) based on the result of judgment,processing for scheduling distribution of the information contents,processing for distributing the information contents to the terminal 30_(−j) processing for charging the terminal station 30 _(−j) along withthe distribution of information, etc.

The RAM 13 stores temporary processing data when the CPU 11 isprocessing.

The frame memory 14 stores the display data processed at the CPU 11. Thedisplay 15 is an apparatus for displaying the display data stored in theframe memory 14 and provides the necessary information to the manager ofthe contents server 10. The input device 16 inputs necessary informationfrom the manager of the contents server 10.

The external storage 17 is a randomly accessible information storagemedium such as a magnetic disk or optical disk and stores a plurality ofinformation contents.

The communications I/F 18 is a communications interface for connectingthe contents server 10 to the network 20 _(−j) through a communicationsline and connecting it to the terminal stations 30 _(−j) through thenetwork 20 _(−j). The contents server 10 transmits information contentsand various control signals to the terminal stations 30 _(−j) using thecommunications I/F 18.

The bus 19 connects circuits comprising the above contents server 10 forthe transmission of programs or data.

Note that the processing program of the present embodiment was comprisedto be stored in the ROM 12, but may also be stored in the externalstorage 17 and be transferred through the bus 19 to the RAM 13 at thetime of execution for execution by the CPU 11. Further, thecommunication I/F 18 may be comprised to be able to transmit and receivesignals. The processing program may be received through a transmissionline from an external terminal apparatus at the communication I/F 18,stored in the RAM 13 or external storage 17, and executed at the CPU 11.

That is, the contents server 10 may be loaded with the computer programfor performing the above processing from a medium comprised of amagnetic disk, CD-ROM, or other information storage medium and also loadit through the Internet, digital satellite, or other transmission mediumfor processing at the CPU 11.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the configuration of a terminal apparatus30 _(−j).

A terminal station 30 _(−j) comprises a signal transceiver 31, acellular controller 32, an information controller 33, a storage 34, adisplay/command input portion 35, a power supply circuit 36, and a timer37.

The signal transceiver 31 is a circuit for performing signal processingfor communicating with a base station and generates and sends acommunication signal of a desired protocol based on control by thecellular controller 32. Further, the transceiver decodes the receivedsignal to a predetermined base band signal and outputs into theinformation controller 33 under the control of the cellular controller32.

The cellular controller 32 controls the signal transceiver 31 so as thatthe terminal stations 30 _(−j) can suitably communicate in accordancewith a predetermined protocol or supports the parts of the terminalstations 30 _(−j) so as to be able to suitably maintain the conditionsof the terminal stations 30 _(−j) relating to the communication byfunctions provided to the communication system. For example, thecellular controller 32 detects whether or not a terminal station 30_(−j) is in an area able to communicate with the base station, namely,performs processing for detecting whether it is within a communicationzone or outside the communication zone and outputting the results to thedisplay/command input portion 35.

The information controller 33 performs desired processing on informationreceived via the signal transceiver 31 and information set by a user viathe display/command input portion 35.

The information controller 33 generates data requesting distribution ofdesired information based on user operation and outputs it to the signaltransceiver 31.

Also, the information controller 33 stores a variety of noticeinformation etc. received from the contents server 10 in the storage 34in accordance with need and displays it on the display/command inputportion 35 so that a user can confirm it. The information of thescheduled point of time of distribution from the contents server 10 foran information distribution request transmitted to the contents server10, the communication costs by region/by time bands suitably distributedfrom the contents server 10, and other data are stored in the storage 34and displayed at the display/command input portion 35.

Further, the information controller 33 stores the informationdistributed from the contents server 10 to the storage 34, notifies auser that the information was received via the display/command inputportion 35, and, based on an operation of the user, successively readsthe information from the storage 34 and displays it at thedisplay/command input portion 35.

Furthermore, when a scheduled period of time of distribution of theinformation is transmitted from the contents server 10 and the powersupply of a terminal station 30 _(−j) is turned off at the scheduledperiod of time, the information controller 33 sets a scheduled period oftime to the timer 37 so that the power supply automatically turns on.

The storage 34 is a compact storage storing a variety of informationnotified or distributed by the contents server 10, information set by auser via the display/command input portion 35, etc. and is suitablyaccessed by the information controller 33. Specifically, the storage 34is realized by a compact hard disk drive (HDD), an MD, a re-writeableCD, compact MO, flash memory, etc.

The display/command input portion 35 is an interface between an internalcircuit of the terminal station 30 _(−j) and a user and comprises aliquid crystal display panel for displaying information for the user, aspeaker for outputting the information by audio, and a key board for theuser to operate.

The power supply circuit 36 is a circuit for supplying power to theportions of a terminal station 30 _(−j).

Usually, the supply and cut-off of power by the power supply circuit 36is performed directly by the user via the display/command input portion35, however, the power supply circuit 36 of the present embodiment maybe operated to supply and cut-off the power also by a signal from thetimer 37. As a result, functions of automatic supply of power at thescheduled period of time of distribution of information from thecontents server 10 and automatic cut-off of the power after receivinginformation are realized.

The timer 37 is a timing means for constantly measuring the time andoutputs a control signal for the automatic supply and cut-off of powerat the power supply circuit 36 based on a time set by the informationcontroller 33.

Next, the operation of such a cellular wireless communication system 1and the actual procedure of information distribution will be explained.

FIG. 6 shows a basic procedure of information distribution in thepresent invention.

A terminal station 30 _(−j) transmits information for demandingdistribution of certain information contents to the contents server 10(demand for contents). The information includes, in addition to terminalinformation including an ID for specifying the terminal station 30 _(−j)and demanded content information expressing the content of theinformation contents requested, time limit information expressing thedeadline for distribution of the information, that is, the time limit ofdistribution. The request information is transferred to the contentsserver 10 via a network node (CS) 20.

The contents server 10 receives the request information transmitted fromthe terminal station 30 _(−j), verifies the terminal station 30 _(−j)and, when completes this normally, checks whether or not the requestedinformation can be distributed under the demanded conditions. That is,it judges if it has the requested information contents and judges if itcan distribute the information contents by the time indicated by thetime limit for distribution.

Then, when the requested information is able to be provided, theterminal station 30 _(−j) is notified that the demand was received(ACK).

Next, the contents server 10 estimates the time band where the trafficload is small in the communication system in the period until thedeadline of the information distribution in the demand and again pagesthe terminal station 30 _(−j) requesting the distribution of theinformation contents. If the terminal station 30 _(−j) is in a stateable to receive the information contents (ACK), it transmits therequested information contents via the network node 20 _(−i), to theterminal station 30 _(−j).

When the terminal station 30 _(−j) normally completes reception of theinformation contents, it transmits an acknowledgment to the effect ofcompleting the reception (ACK) to the contents server 10, whereby allprocedures of transmission and reception end.

Second Embodiment

Several modes of information distribution will be explained next.

First, a mode where the contents server 10 notifies the terminal servers30 _(−j) in advance of the time band for transfer of informationcontents as explained above will be explained.

In this case, the ACK signal sent from the contents server 10 to aterminal server 30 _(−j) for a demand for information distributionincludes information of the time band during which the contents server10 will transmit the information contents to the terminal station 30_(−j) demanding distribution.

The contents server 10 which received the demand for informationdistribution from the terminal station 30 _(−j) calculates the time bandestimated to have less communications traffic during the time until theinformed deadline based on results of operations up to then and thetransmission schedule of the information contents received until then.Then, it includes the information of the scheduled point of time ofdistribution determined based on the calculated time band in the aboveACK.

By the transfer of the ACK to the terminal station 30 _(−j), it ispossible for the terminal station 30 _(−j) to learn when the informationwill be distributed.

The terminal station 30 _(−j) displays the point of time scheduled fordistribution of the information contents to the user and makes the userprepare for receiving the information contents during the time band.

Then, the contents server 10 again pages the terminal station 30 _(−j)at the point of time notified in advance to the terminal station 30_(−j) and distributes the information contents by the above procedure.

In the above mode of transfer of information contents, the power supplyof the terminal station 30 _(−j) may be controlled in accordance withthe point of time of transfer of the information contents.

A terminal station 30 _(−j) is provided internally with a timer 37 whichis constantly in operation even when the power supply of the terminalstation 30 _(−j) is turned off.

Therefore, when the power supply of the terminal station 30 _(−j) isturned off at the scheduled point of time of distribution of theinformation contents notified by the contents server 10, the timer 37outputs a trigger signal to the power supply circuit 36 to automaticallyturn on the power supply of the terminal station 30 _(−j) and give theinitial settings required for receiving the information contentstransmitted from the contents server 10.

The contents server 10 transmits in the same way as the above theinformation contents demanded to be distributed to the terminal station30 _(−j) when the point of time notified in advance arrives, so theterminal station 30 _(−j) receives the same.

By configuring the terminal station in the above way, it becomespossible to turn off the power supply in usual times to keep down thepower consumption and to automatically turn it on at the scheduled pointof time of distribution of the information contents.

Further, the terminal station 30 _(−j) may be configured toautomatically turn off again when normally completing the reception ofthe information contents scheduled to be distributed.

Third Embodiment

Next, a mode of receiving information contents by a user designating atime band and region will be explained.

First, the contents server 10 or the network node 20 _(−i) averages andcalculates the traffic load in the past for different regions inadvance. For example, it sets the relay area of a network node 20 _(−i)as a calculated region. Alternatively, it sets an area comprised byrelay areas of several network nodes 20 _(−i) as the calculated region.Then, the contents server 10 or the network node 20 _(−i) suitablypredicts a traffic load by region and by time band based on the scheduleof distributing the information contents scheduled until then andcalculation of the traffic load and, based on this prediction,calculates communication fees for the respective regions/time bands.

The communication fees for each region/time band are broadcasted to theterminal stations 30 ⁻¹ to 30 _(−m) using a BCCH (broadcast controlchannel) for simultaneous broadcast of control signals from a basestation to terminal stations in cellular wireless communications.

The terminal stations 30 _(−j) suitably receive the information of thecommunication fees for each region/time band and store it in the storage34 when performing processing (such as cell searching) necessary forconnecting with the network.

Then, they display the information relating to the communication chargeson the display/command input portion 35 when a user inputs aninstruction to the effect of desiring to demand distribution ofinformation contents etc. from the display/command input portion 35.

When an instruction of “in which time band and region the reception ofthe information contents is desired” is input by a user through thedisplay/command input portion 35, a terminal station 30 _(−j) generatesregion/time band information based on the input region and time bandinstruction, adds it to the demand for distribution of informationcontents, and sends the result to the contents server 10.

The contents server 10 receiving this transmits as ACK by the aboveprocedure to notify the terminal station 30 _(−j) that the demand wasreceived when the content of the demand for information distribution isacceptable.

Next, the contents server 10 pages the terminal station 30 _(−j) in theregion. and time band designated by the terminal station 30 _(−j) andtransmits the demanded information contents when the terminal 30 _(−j)responds. That is, it confirms if there is a terminal station 30 _(−j)existing in the region designated by the user and where there istransmits the information contents to the terminal station 30 _(−j)through the network node 20 _(−i) positioned in the designated region.

Note that when the terminal station 30 _(−j) does not respond to thepaging, the contents server 10 tries again several times, then gives updistributing the information contents.

To avoid such giving up of distribution of the information contents asmuch as possible, information indicating a plurality of candidates for“in which time band and region reception of information contents isdesired” transmitted from a terminal station 30 _(−j) to the contentsserver 10 may be also set. Further, priority may be added as well to thethus set plurality of candidates.

In this case, it is sufficient that the contents server 10 distributethe information contents in one of the region/time band among thecandidates. Specifically, the contents server 10 tries to distribute theinformation contents for example from the one having the earliest timeband among the candidates. When the candidate time bands are the same,it tries to distribute the information contents from the ones having thehigher priorities.

Further, when the terminal station 30 _(−j) does not respond to thepaging in the designated region in the designated time band, thecontents server 10, as a next stage, may refer to an HLR (home locationregister) storing information of the terminal stations 30 _(−j) providedin the cellular wireless communications system 1 and page a region wherethe terminal station 30 _(−j) is considered to exist. In this case, whenthe terminal station 30 _(−j) responds to the paging, a fee is chargedfor the traffic load of that region/time band.

Note that the paging referring to the HLR may also be performed withoutpaging in the designated region.

Fourth Embodiment

Next, a mode will be explained where at the time of the aboveinformation distribution, a charge for the distribution of the sameinformation is changed in accordance with time limit of distribution.

A terminal station 30 _(−j) is comprised to be able to select one of thetime limits of distribution of “receive distribution of informationimmediately” and “receive distribution of information before deadline”when sending a demand for distribution of information contents to thecontents server 10.

When distribution of information is demanded immediately, the contentsserver 10 judges whether the demand is “OK” or “NG” by considering thecurrent traffic load. When “OK”, it sends the terminal station 30 _(−j)ACK, while when “NG”, it sends NACK.

When OK, the server immediately secures a communication line anddistributes the information contents by using the existing method.

When NG, the server distributes NACK to notify that the informationdistribution is currently not possible. In response to this, the usersets an acceptable period of time etc. of the information distributionas a distribution time limit and issues a request for informationdistribution again.

In this case, the communication fee for the information distribution isdetermined by the period of time until the deadline of the informationdistribution.

Namely, the fee related to the distribution is the highest when theinformation is distributed immediately and becomes lower the later theinformation distribution time.

As explained above, according to the cellular wireless communicationsystem 1 of the present invention, since it becomes possible not toprovide information by real-time the distribution of information contentcan be scheduled for any period of time until the time limit fordistribution, the traffic load in the time bands where the traffic loadis high can be out and the traffic load in time bands scarcely usedbefore can be increased, so it becomes possible to obtain the effects ofaveraging the traffic load in terms of time and to effectively utilizecommunication facilities owned by a network operator fully for 24 hoursas shown in FIG. 7.

Note that in FIG. 7, the traffic load shown by a thick line is a partindicating the traffic load of the communication system according to thepresent invention.

Also, due to this, since the network operator can much more effectivelyutilize the communication facilities, it becomes possible to lower thetraffic load at peak times and reduce the communication costs.

Also, users of terminal stations become able to decide the deadline forinformation distribution by themselves.

Namely, it becomes possible to finalize the point of time forinformation distribution in a user-led manner. As a result, it becomespossible for a user to receive information contents at the desiredperiod of time at a reasonable communication cost by considering thepoint of time for information distribution and the communication chargesnecessary for the information distribution.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments andmay be modified in various ways.

For example, the configurations of the terminal stations 30 _(−j) etc.are not limited to above examples. Any configurations are possible.

For example, as a modification according to the present invention, theterminal station 30 _(−j) may estimate the size of the informationcontents desired by a user and calculate and display to the user byabout how much time and communication charge reception of theinformation contents would be possible from the size of the contents anda communications capacity able to be provided by the current system.Note that the size of the information contents may be estimatedindependently by the terminal station 30 _(−j) in some cases, or thesize of the information contents desired by the user may be obtainedafter demanding the contents server 10 notify the size of theinformation contents in other cases.

Further, in the cellular wireless communication system 1, the contentsserver 10 or the network nodes 20 _(−i) may inform users through theBCCH of up to how much a load of communications can be provided at thepresent in the region, and the terminal stations 30 _(−j) may receivethe information constantly and store it in a built-in storage fordisplay to the users.

In addition, the configuration of the display/command input portion 35was made a liquid crystal panel, a speaker, and a key board in thepresent embodiment, however, the portion may be configured, for example,without a key board and to comprise other any input/output means.

Also, the configuration of the storage 34 may use a recording device forrecording information on any recording medium other than the aboverecording media and recording devices such as HD, MD, MO, CD, etc.

Also, the above embodiment was explained taking as an example the casewhere the configuration of a network was a cellular wirelesscommunication system, however, the present invention is not limited tothis and is able to be applied to any network systems.

Also, in the network of the present embodiment, only one contents serverwas shown, however, two or more servers may exist as in usual cases.Also, the configuration of the network is not limited to the form in theabove embodiment where a contents server, network nodes, and terminalstations are connected in a tree-structure. It may be any form ofnetwork.

As explained above, according to the embodiments of the presentinvention, an information distribution system and method capable ofaveraging a traffic load over time and effectively utilizingcommunication facilities can be provided.

Also, a terminal apparatus, a server apparatus, a data reception method,and a data transmission method able to be used in such an informationdistribution system and to contribute to averaging of the traffic loadin the network and effective usage of communication facilities can beprovided.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention can be applied to various network systems such ascellular wireless communication systems.

1-17. (canceled)
 18. A server apparatus transmitting information basedon a demand from a terminal apparatus, said server apparatus comprising:a transceiver for transmission to the terminal apparatus; and acontroller for: scheduling a point of time for distribution, based on astate of a communication line used for distribution of information, inaccordance with a request signal requesting information from theterminal apparatus received at said transceiver, and controlling thesystem for distribution of information corresponding to the requestsignal to the terminal apparatus through the transceiver at thescheduled point of time.
 19. A server apparatus as set forth in claim18, wherein an internal controller schedules the point of time fordistribution of information based on the time limit informationindicating a time limit for distribution of said information included insaid request signal and the state of a communication line.
 20. A serverapparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein the controller detects atraffic load of said communication line and distributes the informationat period of time when the traffic load is small.
 21. A server apparatusas set forth in claim 20, wherein said controller estimates a period oftime until the time limit of distribution and a point of time when thetraffic load is small, controls the system for notification of saidestimated point of time to said terminal apparatus, and schedulesdistribute the information at the estimated point of time.
 22. A serverapparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein said controller calculatesan amount of charge for distribution of information based on a length ofthe period of time until the time limit of distribution designated bythe terminal apparatus and performs processing for charging the terminalapparatus based on the calculated amount of charge.
 23. A serverapparatus as set forth in claim 18, where said controller calculates anamount of charge for distribution of information based on an efficiencyof use of a communication resource in communication between saidterminal apparatus and said based station and performs processing forcharging the terminal apparatus based on the calculated amount ofcharge.
 24. A server apparatus as set forth in claim 18, where saidcontroller calculates cost information indicating communication costsbased on a state of said communication line by region, by time band, orby time band for individual regions and controls the system fordistribution of the calculated cost information to the terminalapparatus and schedules distribution of information to the designatedregion and time band based on the request signal. 25-39. (canceled) 40.A data transmission method for transmitting information based on arequest from a terminal apparatus, said data transmission method fortransmitting information based on a request from a terminal apparatus,comprising the steps of: receiving a request signal requestinginformation from a terminal apparatus; scheduling a point of time fordistribution based on a state of a communication line used fordistribution of information; and transmitting the informationcorresponding to the request signal to the terminal apparatus at thescheduled point of time.
 41. A data transmission method as set forth inclaim 40, further comprising a step of scheduling the point of time fordistribution of information based on the time limit informationindicating a time limit of distribution of information included in saidrequest signal and the state of the communication line.
 42. A datatransmission method as set forth in claim 41, further comprising a stepof detecting a traffic load of said communication line and schedulingdistribution of said information in a period of time when the trafficload is small.
 43. A data transmission method as set forth in claim 42,further comprising the steps of, when receiving said request signal,estimating a period of time until said time limit of distribution andpoint of time where the traffic load is small, notifying said estimatedpoint of time to said terminal apparatus, and scheduling distribution ofsaid information at the estimated point of time.
 44. A data transmissionmethod as set forth in claim 40, further comprising a step ofcalculating an amount of charge for distribution of information based ona length of the period of time until the time limit of distribution andperforming processing for charging the terminal apparatus based on thecalculated amount of charge.
 45. A data transmission method as set forthin claim 40, further comprising a step of calculating an amount ofcharge for distribution of information based on an efficiency of use ofa communication resource in communication between said terminalapparatus and a wireless communication based station and performingprocessing for charging the terminal apparatus based on the calculatedamount of charge.
 46. A data transmission method as set forth in claim40, further comprising a step of calculating cost information indicatingcommunication costs based on a state of said communication line byregion, by time band, or by time band for individual regions anddistributing the calculated cost information to the terminal apparatus.47. A data transmission method as set forth in claim 46, furthercomprising a step of scheduling distribution of information to a regionand time band included in a request signal from said terminal apparatus.